Have we witnessed another military coup in Bangladesh?

Op-ed

Given recent events in Bangladesh, political analysts may be inclined to view the recent political unrest as a new iteration of the Fakhruddin-Moinuddin government in the aftermath of the military coup of 1/11 in 2007, often referred to as 1/11 version 2.0. According to official reports, Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and departed the country on August 5, 2024, amid violent protests, with Dr. Muhammad Yunus assuming the role of the Chief Adviser of an interim government. Despite these official accounts, considerable uncertainties persist. The statement by the army chief assuming full responsibility has bolstered this conjecture. Various indicators, such as the army chief’s remarks preceding the victory speech, the non-suspension of the constitution, the continuity of the presidency, the prominent public support for the movement, and the appointment of advisers reminiscent of the 1/11 period, collectively suggest the characteristics of an indirect military intervention, known in political science as a “veto” coup d’état. The onus now lies on all stakeholders to disprove our hypothesis.